My favourite holiday...

A few years ago, I let Vincent know that Mother's Day was now my most important holiday for me. (i.e., forget it and you're in big trouble (-:

I love being a mom so I love this day that celebrates that! I love receiving their handmade presents and cards that they are so proud to give me. And, of course, the fact that included in those presents is a well-chosen gift from Vincent doesn't hurt much either.

This year, we were at our cottage for mother's day so it was already special. We did decide to go into the little town close to our cottage and have a picnic on the beach. Unfortunately, the water levels were so high that there was no beach to be found but we made do!!! Gabriel was disappointed as he had all his sand toys ready so fortunately we were able to find him a tiny patch of sand that was still untouched by the water. Also, while he was napping, Mathieu and I drove out to a natural sand pit by our place and filled a box with sand for him so he could play on the balcony...it does not take much!!!

Vincent and I have had a couple of date nights since Alex is born...So far, though, our "dates" include Alex who tags along with us. We went out last night to a restaurant and he was a prince. He did not cry one and just happily sits on one of our laps. At this point, we don't even consider him an intrusion because he doesn't talk yet...hence he can not interrupt us!!!

Happy days....

Other than the obvious detail of having children, two other big changes have occurred in my life in the past 10 years or so. One is my need to be clean and fairly organized (who would have guessed!) and the other is my love and need to be active and outdoors. For a former slob and couch potato these have been pretty major changes. One of the main things I love about the cottage is the ability to take in the nature around me. I always feel so happy and alive when I am running or biking through the trails and back roads. If you can excuse the dramatic word it feels a bit like a sanctuary to me where I connect with myself and feel rejuvenated and at peace. Also, its a wonderful chance just to be all alone to think and get a break from the demands of motherhood for a short while...I went for a run this past weekend in the beautiful sunshine and fresh air. I was thinking about every thing that is going on in my life and I had one of my many moments of just feeling pure gratitude. I was thinking about how happy I was at this moment and that I needed to somehow capture the moment so that it would not escape me. Perhaps than, if ever I am going through a tough time I could look back and remember, "oh, remember that time in the woods where you were just feeling completely happy..." Those moments are so precious.

So yes, we went to the cottage last weekend. When we arrived on Saturday morning there was still a thin layer of ice on about half the lake. Over the next hours we watched and listened to the ice being pushed up on our shore and quickly melting. By Sunday morning all was clear and the boys and I took a canoe ride for the first time this year. We also were able to eat lunch on the balconey in the sun. The boys played outside all day long and Gabriel had fun playing in his new tunnel that I bought him at the Bazaar the other day...

Only child syndrome...

Back from Winnipeg where I spent a very relaxing and enjoying week as the mother of only one child (oh...those were the days: two hands per child!!!...(-:)...Not to mention a bunch of extra hands to help with Alex and no cooking or cleaning to do!!!! Wow, what a life...

I had a good time visiting with family for Easter and seeing my "gold" old friend...I also got to a chance to get in some great bike rides with Gilbert and some runs along the Seine river (not to mention oodles of shopping!) Alex got plenty of hugs and even some stroller rides from his cousin. He was a very loved baby...

Well, its back to reality and, though much more hectic, its actually quite sweet. Tomorrow we are off to the cottage and I am looking forward to enjoying the spring weather. I am hoping the lake it completely melted as I would love to go for a canoe ride...

Changes...

Sometimes I like to go back and look at old blogs that I have written ago exactly one year previous. I am always fascinated with how many things can happen in a year and how many changes can occur. You never know what is going to unfold in front of you...A year ago I did not yet know that I was pregnant with Alex but was soon to find out. I remember I tried not to let myself get too excited at first (impossible by the way!!!) in case it did not work out. After that, I spend many weeks and months worrying and hoping that all would work out...Well, here we are a year later with this beautiful, healthy baby boy whom I absolutely adore (on the brink of obsession!!). We are so grateful to have him in our lives...

Well, the kids are up soon and then I am off to Winnipeg for the week!

My dad and Jan came to town the other day and we had a wonderful visit. Fortunately, I got over my insomnia the first night they were here so I was able to appreciate my time with them in a more rested state!!! What was also wonderful is that they took Gabriel and Mathieu with them to the cottage a couple of days earlier than us so we got to have two quiet nights "alone" together (Alex doesn't count since he can't talk yet!). Vincent and I took advantage of having significantly less children by taking walks together and going out for supper. We joined Dad and Jan at the cottage on Saturday and had a beautiful weekend and more chance to visit. The weather was amazing and it was great to be able to jog in the sunshine and fresh air. We also got a chance to visit a sugar shack down the road from us which Dad and Jan really appreciated. Vincent came home with 10 cans of maple syrup.

The boys started their swimming lessons this weekend at the pool in town. Gabriel was a little upset at first that Vincent was not going to be with him in the pool anymore but he adapted quickly and had a good time.

On my side, I stared Cardio-poussette last week and am enjoying running in the park with the mommies yet again!

I can say now that it really feels like I am coming out of cocooning mode. The first months with a baby are the most challenging in some ways but it feels like we have made it through. The warmer weather is upon us and I am looking forward to being able to spend more time outside with the kids. Vincent left for Toronto today and won't be back till tomorrow. I have all three kids at home with me today since Mathieu has no school so hopefully we can spend a lot of time outside in the park!

Spring is in the air!

I think every mother of a new born has had the experience of being awake at 3 in the morning desperately trying to get their baby back to sleep. You know those moments when you feel have asleep and you have been rocking them back and forth in the dark until you are sure you are safe and they are finally sound a sleep and the moment you put them down in their crib and you are ever so slowly creeping away they suddenly wake up??...And then of course, after the third time that your baby has played this ever so fun mind game with you you are so thoroughly frustrated that when they finally get back to sleep you can no longer get back to sleep!!!!

Oh the joys of motherhood...(-: Thank goodness they are adorably cute as they are looking up at you with their big eyes fully awake at 3 in the morning!!!!

Alex is 2 months old today and the time has gone quickly. These past 2 months have been wonderful and they have also been...hmmm...I hesitate to use the word "overwhelming" since it has too negative of a connotation for what I mean (though I admit there have been moments that I have felt overwhelmed) so I will use the words thoroughly encompassing. Needless to say, our family has been quite busy as we have adjusted to this new wonderful new addition...

Spring has begun to arrive here lately and I find the weather and change of season reflects well where I am at lately. After Alex was born (in the dead of winter) I felt the need to cocoon...Out of necessity as well as preference I have been sticking close to home and focusing mainly on the family Part of it is that I have not felt the energy to focus on much else! By the time I get the older kids to bed that's it for me...no more brain power...all systems down!!! (If the phone rings after 8:30 p.m. there is no way I am answering since I have no more desire to speak or capacity for input!!!!) But lately I have been finding the energy and the desire to start to take baby steps out into the world again...and by the "world" I mean venturing beyond a 3 block radius beyond the grocery store...!! (well maybe not today since I have been up since 3:30!!!) Life is beginning to take on more of a routine and my sleeping has increased (well, most of the time!).

I realize that my little rant may sound like I am complaining but I am not...We are so happy with Alexandre and I am so proud to have these 3 little guys. We have had some really amazing moments. When I am walking down the street with the three of them (one on either side and Alexandre in his front pack!!) I could not feel prouder. Well, that's it for now. I could write so much more but time is limited!!

What can I say?

There is so much to say but I know my time is limited as it is rare lately that I have my hands free!

There have been so many emotions over these past days and even months that I have not yet had the time to process them all.

If I can summarize the most recurring and dominant feeling is that we are feeling so grateful and so incredibly blessed....Everything went well and we have this amazingly beautiful and healthy boy that has become part of our family.

My sister was right, now that he is here I know he is the one that was meant for us all along. Everything else falls into its place.

Baby is crying...gotta go already!!!